Smith finds way through massed Metalurg ranks

Leeds United 1 Metalurg Zaporizhya

Michael Bridges, the forgotten man of Elland Road as he battled back from a career-threatening injury, marked his first appearance in nearly two years by coming off the bench to make Leeds' winner for Alan Smith late in an insipid Uefa Cup first-round, first-leg match last night.

The dogged, massed defenders of the Ukrainian side Metalurg Zaporizhya were within 10 minutes of achieving the draw which proved beyond Manchester United last weekend. It was then that Bridges, muscling Oleg Raty off the ball as they contested Gary Kelly's long pass, cut the ball back for Smith to tap in the goal that will give Leeds a slender advantage in the second leg on 2 October.

Bridges was as rapturous as the crowd were relieved, although the visitors' coach, Oleg Lutkov, argued that the former Sunderland striker had pushed his player. "The goal was not according to the laws," he said, and warned that Leeds would face a test of their mettle in the steel-making city of Zaporizhya. "The second leg will be different. I assure you that you will see a more attacking Metalurg team."

That may be music to Terry Venables' ears. Leeds toiled to break down limited opponents, showing negligible creativity or width, much as they did when losing at home to Sunderland last month. This time, however, the goal went their way, and it is likely to suit them better in Cossack country to absorb pressure and counter-attack to exploit the space that opens up.

Venables praised Bridges. "I'm very happy for him," the Leeds manager said. "There must have been times when he was very low so it was a big moment for him when he came on. I thought he did really well."

Leeds did not play at the requisite tempo, as Venables acknowledged. "We needed to pick up the pace after half-time and we did. In the end we could have had a goal or two more. But they came for a draw and hoped to nick a win. Now we've got it all to do."

Leeds will need to summon greater urgency if they are to advance. They began as if they regarded the game as a glorified friendly. The Ukrainians' principal tactic involved pulling all 10 outfield players behind the ball and defying Leeds to break them down. Apart from a long-range shot by Lee Bowyer which drifted over, and a Smith drive straight at Andriy Glushchenko, Leeds relied on set-pieces.

Jonathan Woodgate rose above a defender to send a header just too high, while Eirik Bakke, unmarked eight yards out, was off target. Ian Harte's poor delivery of several set-pieces typified Leeds' lethargy.

Metalurg finally ventured an attack on the half-hour, Fabio Vasconcelos testing Paul Robinson from 25 yards. Olivier Dacourt's two-footed challenge on Vasconcelos shortly before half-time, which earned only a yellow card, summed up Leeds' frustration.

In the 54th minute, Leeds created two scoring opportunities in a matter of seconds. From a cross by Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka nodded the ball back for Smith, whose header was clawed out by Glushchenko. When the ball was swung in again, Harte directed a free header straight at the keeper.

Viduka, who is carrying an Achilles injury, eventually gave way to Bridges. The 24-year-old Geordie, Leeds' top scorer in 1999-2000, had last played 23 months earlier, against Besiktas in Istanbul, when he sustained an ankle injury that was followed by a serious knee problem.

Bridges' impact was instantaneous, sparking a belated siege in which Lucas Radebe forced a fine save from Glushchenko with a booming volley, but the handsome victory demanded by Venables was never on the agenda.

Leeds United (4-3-2-1): Robinson; Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte; Bowyer, Dacourt (McPhail, 65), Bakke; Smith, Kewell; Viduka (Bridges, 65). Substitutes not used: Mills, Okon, Burns, McMaster, Martyn (gk).

Metalurg Zaporizhya (1-3-5-1): Glushchenko; Raty; Valuta, Dodic, Visevic; Vasconcelos, Klyuchyk, Milosavljevic, Akopian, Smirnov (Zayats, 90); Modebadze (Brdanin, 59; Rodri, 90). Substitutes not used: Hansen, Lapko, Savinov, Zolna (gk).

Referee: M Vuorela (Finland).